FALL RIVER — Samantha Botelho, valedictorian of the SER-Jobs for Progress, said earning her General Educational Development certificate wasn’t just for her, but also for her soon-to-arrive daughter and her family.

Botelho told a crowd of graduates and their families and friends that two years ago, after her mother died, her life was heading down the wrong path. Things changed when she found out she was pregnant.

“I realized I had to change my life for my daughter’s sake. I needed to have a better life so she could have a better life. That’s what being a good parent is all about,” Botelho said. “The first thing I needed to improve was my education.”

Botelho managed to pass the GED exam after two months of classes.

Botelho, a new graduate from SER-Jobs for Progress’ Young Parents Program, was joined by some of the 38 students who earned either a GED or a high school equivalency certificate in a ceremony held at the Cultural Center on South Main Street.

In addition to the Young Parents Program, graduates earned their diplomas through SER-Jobs for Progress’ Youth Education for Employment Program and the Adult Basic Education Program. It is SER-Jobs’ 24th graduating class.

Francisco Cabral, the executive director of SER-Jobs for Progress, said he chose to talk to the graduates about the enormous impact their accomplishments have made. Without their achievements, Cabral said, elected officials might not be persuaded into providing funds necessary for similar education programs, and local officials wouldn’t recognize SER-Jobs as an important community partner.

“Without your success, there wouldn’t be a grandmother going to the corner variety store this morning and not stop bragging their grandchild graduating today,” Cabral said.

Keynote speaker Stacey Monahan, commissioner of the Department of Transitional Assistance, told the graduates their accomplishments were not easy and that they’ve faced many barriers.

“You kept persevering, you kept going. And I look in this room and I see so much talent. I know this is not the end of your journey,” Monahan said. “It is a very significant milestone, but there are so many more places for you to go.”

Mayor Will Flanagan said all the graduates made good decisions by going back to school, studying hard and passing their exams.

“Your decision was to go back to school, not just to have a better quality of life for yourself but a better quality of life for your family, as well,” Flanagan said.

Encouraging the graduates to continue their education, Flanagan said he really believed “the sky was the limit” for them.